Women with breast cancer: nurse-patient interactions and perceptions of nursing care

interações e percepções sobre o cuidado do enfermeiro

Abstract

This a qualitative descriptive research conducted with female patients with breast cancer during their chemotherapy treatment. The objective was to understand these patients' perception of nursing care and how the relationship between professional and patient is established, on a humane perspective. Data was collected via individual semi-structured interviews, performed after the research project approval by the Research Ethics Committee, according to report no. 621/07. The subjects were nine women interviewed between August and September 2008 at two referral centres for oncology at the north of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Discourse was analysed according to dialectical theories, out of which two categories emerged: multiple ways of caring, and basic caring methods. The results revealed that women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy treatment acknowledged the nursing professionals' technical and human abilities. Attributes such as affection, attention, patience, respect, and protection connected to caring were present in the participants discourse and were highlighted as effective humanizing strategies. In conclusion, the patients perceived the nursing care as humanised and qualified; however they were not able to differentiate the nursing team leader. It is up to this professional to give more visibility to his/her performance, function, and role played in the practice of ambulatory care to women with cancer.